R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press Two members participate in a virtual training class while another practices yoga at the new Anytime Fitness in Escanaba.

EDITOR NOTE: The Daily Press will be featuring a series of articles on local businesses, highlighting their history and what makes them unique. The series will run on a regular basis in the Daily Press.

— — —

ESCANABA –At 322 N. Lincoln Road in Escanaba, Jayne Szukalowski enjoys an open plan office with clear views inside the new location of Anytime Fitness. It’s a safer and more comfortable situation than the layout that had been in place in the gym’s previous location in the Delta Plaza Mall, as the latter had awkward separations between areas.

Anytime Fitness had been leasing space in the mall for 13 years, but now, Jayne and her husband have purchased the building across the street, which was previously Sears. All of the equipment was transferred to the facility on the eastern side of the highway. “No one got hurt, number one, and nothing got broke! It was unbelievable,” said Jayne, praising the Escanaba Moving Company, who facilitated the move. “They did a fantastic job.”

Szukalowski says the key to their successful relocation, which only took two months, was proper timing to organize building, painting, carpeting, and so on. Two new machines have been added.

“It was a good move. I’m glad they (the mall) have another business going in. Five Below is moving in to our (old) location, so they found another tenant, which is great,” said Jayne. “It’s a win-win.”

Also in the new building are Cricket Wireless and Glo Tanning Studio & Laundromat. Jayne says she is dedicated to maintaining amicable relationships with tenants and neighbors.

Anytime Fitness is a members club and a franchise, which for gym-goers means they can attend any of the other locations around the globe, and for Jayne means that certain regulations had to be met and standards upheld. The 24-hour facility is equipped with cameras and doors that lock to non-members after regular hours.

Currently, after the sudden and tragic loss of club manager Kelli Marshall in May, Jayne is running the show herself. She also owns three other Anytime Fitness gyms in Sault Ste. Marie, Iron Mountain, and Marquette, but is looking for staff here in Escanaba.

Jayne is planning a ribbon cutting and open house for Aug. 4 and intends to include all the businesses in the building as part of the event. “We want to see our community businesses succeed.” She says it was hard to see so many others forced to close their doors in 2020 and hopes current companies and organizations are helping to lift each other up.